Tag: Phones

RIM Just Bitched out Apple

July 18, 2010

Computer/ Tech Related

1 Comment

In Apple’s press conference about their piece of shit iPhone 4 antenna, they pretty much denied that there was an issue, yet offered a solution anyway (free case anyone?). Feeling gulity much? Apple also ripped on RIM, Nokia and HTC that all these smartphones have antenna problems. That is bullshit. They’re just trying to make themselves look bad.

As much as I hate Blackberries and think Droids are better, I hate Apple more. So I applaud RIM’s statement, which pretty much says in a nice way: “Hey Apple, you fucked up. Don’t drag us into this and tell people all phones with internal antennas have this issue – our antennas are fine”

The statement:

Apple’s attempt to draw RIM into Apple’s self-made debacle is unacceptable. Apple’s claims about RIM products appear to be deliberate attempts to distort the public’s understanding of an antenna design issue and to deflect attention from Apple’s difficult situation. RIM is a global leader in antenna design and has been successfully designing industry-leading wireless data products with efficient and effective radio performance for over 20 years. During that time, RIM has avoided designs like the one Apple used in the iPhone 4 and instead has used innovative designs which reduce the risk for dropped calls, especially in areas of lower coverage. One thing is for certain, RIM’s customers don’t need to use a case for their BlackBerry smartphone to maintain proper connectivity. Apple clearly made certain design decisions and it should take responsibility for these decisions rather than trying to draw RIM and others into a situation that relates specifically to Apple.

Shut Up About the iPhone 4’s Antenna Issues Already

July 15, 2010

Computer/ Tech Related, Rants

No Comments

ATTENTION TV, NEWS and INTERNET: STOP COVERING THIS STORY ALREADY

If you haven’t heard that this phone is a fuckin shitpile by now, you are either Hellen Keller, dead or living here. There have been 300 articles per minute on my newsreader since June 24th about how the antenna is shitty. We get the point.

Now Steve Jobs felt the need to call an emergency press conference today at 10AM PST with less than a day notice so he can address these issues. Anything other than “I fucked up” or “We are not as amazing as everyone thinks because we have obsessed, blind followers” is a downright lie.

Here’s my problem with Apple. No matter how good or bad they are, people are obsessed. And any time there is news, it’s all the rage.

Ok people? Got it? It has an antenna problem, Jobs was warned, and he was a dick with PR about it. What more is there to analyze? So with that, no one cover this any more, I’m tired of reading it.

The Best Phone Advice I’ve Seen In A While

July 15, 2010

Computer/ Tech Related

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Courtesy of the guys over at Engadget (referencing the Consumer Reports article on how duct tape fixes the iPhone 4 antenna problem):

Don’t buy anything that needs duct tape to work properly. DO NOT BUY an iPhone 4 until this problem is fixed. And then still don’t buy one because AT&T is awful. Buy an Android instead.

Seven Months with A Droid: What Could Have Been Improved

July 11, 2010

Computer/ Tech Related

2 Comments

What sucks, in bulleted form, to get to the point:

  • It’s heavy
  • It’s slow. The 550MHZ processor is pretty awful when loading javascript intensive webpages. It’s almost painful to browse the web on the Droid, even on WiFi (forget about Verizon’s 3G ). Half the time, my menus lag and the UI can be pretty jerky at times. I am blaming the sluggishness on Android 2.1 which is pretty slow. When 2.2 comes out with an improved Dalvik VM and V8 as the javascript engine, it will be much faster.
  • The keyboard slider thing gets loose over time, so it flops around like an asshole.
  • The back of the keyboard slider has plastic wrap on it, which bubbles up over time
  • The keyboard is cramped
  • Sometimes the GPS doesn’t connect unless you reboot the phone. I returned mine and got a new one and the GPS worked better, so it might have been a hardware problem, but it still happens at times.
  • Battery life is eh, but aren’t all smartphones? So no negative points here.

I still love it because it’s the only Verizon phone that does raw Android these days. And I don’t like the Droid X, Droid 2 or HTC Incredible, so I’m happy for now. I’m still jealous of the Nexus One because it’s sleek, but Google botched the launch of that phone. I would have done it differently (and better).

Droid X vs. HTC Incredible

July 10, 2010

Computer/ Tech Related

1 Comment

Mike over at ScoopandSlam (hey look, free shout out) asked me for my comments on the Droid X vs. the HTC Droid Incredible. I pretty much wrote him a book in my comment on his post, so I figured I might as well archive it on my blog. If you’re brave (or geek enough to read my book, go ahead, otherwise you’ll probably be bored. To quote myself:

Straight up the Droid X has better hardware. Take a look at this chart. Also, the Engadget review on the Droid X is decent, but they spend too much time comparing it to the EVO 4G. I can only speculate based on reviews and and my research, but here are my further comments:

There’s something about HTC that pisses me off. Probably SenseUI with that huge fucking clock on the homescreen (you can probably turn that off though) and the moronicly shaped waste of space software phone/menu buttons on the bottom. At the same time, I’ve never seen Motoblur, but from commercials, it looks very similar to the regular Google UI/ my Droid (only with different icons). Android skins piss me the hell off. From screenshots, I like Motoblur better, but I would much prefer for these hardware companies to stop fucking with UI customizations and leaving it the way Google intended it to. All of these customizations are fragmenting the Android OS and confusing people, letting morons like Apple and RIM’s Blackberry gain more users because their interfaces are consistent.

Because of the two UI themes, neither phone pleases me. SenseUI kills me, so I automatically put the Incredible out of my mind. At the same time, the Droid X is so damn huge, it doesn’t impress me either. So if I needed a new Android phone right now, I’m at a loss. I love the idea of the Nexus One because it’s sleek, but that’s out of the question because Verizon dropped it in favor of the two you’re pondering. Google also fucked up the launch of the Nexus One – they should have released it to carriers to sell and not created their own web store, plus releasing it to T Mobile was just dumb as shit and caused them to lose mad sales. Anyway…

The Incredible and Droid X are both very good pieces of hardware, but the Droid X is better. I hate the fact that the Droid X has such a huge screen. However, I did read that it was lighter than the Droid and if you said it fit into your pocket nicely and wasn’t too bad, go for it. The Droid X also has 7 homescreens, which is nice because in all honesty, there are so many cool widgets 3 screens simply isn’t enough.

Something to note: the Droid Incredible has the same sized screen as the original Droid. And on my Droid, the virtual keyboard is a pain in the ass and cramped (I’ve actually been using the physical keyboard). You eventually get used to it though. But with a bigger screen, the keyboard is more spread out and probably easier.

Droid X also records in HD and plays HD video, plus it has an HDMI out.

So my only concern is that you’d look like you’re hoding an iPad to your head when making calls, but if that’s not too bad for you, it doesn’t matter.

I’d lean Droid X, pending you taking a look at MotoBlur. Although it’s completely up to you.

Either way, if you go with an Android phone you’ll be happy. And they both have crazy cameras lots of storage and fast processors. No matter what you get, once you get it enjoy it and ignore the other one/ new phones that come out. Otherwise you’ll go crazy comparing things. I was SO pissed when the Nexus one was announced because I didn’t have the best phone anymore.

Good luck.